File No. 4500.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Mexico to Chargé Coolidge.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, November 16, 1907.
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: I have received your
note, dated the 9th instant, in which you acknowledge the receipt of
mine of the 4th, in which, acceding to the request of your
Government, I advised you concerning that which Mexico considers
reciprocity in regard to the permission for the stay of two coaling
barges in Magdalena Bay, destined to supply the American
squadron.
You have kindly expressed your acceptance of the understanding of the
Mexican Government about reciprocity, as also that the American
Government is disposed to grant permission to Mexican men of war and
other vessels to anchor or take coal in American ports, and you
close your note by saying that with reference to coaling, the laws
of the United States permit the same to all foreign vessels, this
being the practice constantly, observed by the United States.
The above assertion from you compels me to make an explanation, which
I consider in every sense necessary.
In the same manner that the United States does, Mexico grants to all
kinds of vessels in times of peace to anchor and take coal within
Mexican waters, receiving them with the usual courtesy, permitting
men of war to remain stationed in Mexican waters only during a short
period of time, while the anchorage of the American coaling barges
will be permanent during a period of three years, according to the
communication relative to the matter addressed by the Executive to
the Senate of Mexico, concerning which I had the honor to inform the
embassy in my note of October 25 last.
Therefore, I beg you to kindly advise me if the intention of your
Government regarding reciprocity for the supply of Mexican war
vessels is that they can remain stationed in American waters during
the same period of three years, or only during the time ordinarily
granted to all other foreign vessels.
I consider your reply indispensable in order to act in accordance
with the decision of the Senate, and I renew, etc.
